Golf ball including planar mirror surface



United States Patent 7 Inventor Nathan Miller 60 l'lempstead Ave.,Lynbrook, New York 1 1563 Appl. No. 810,466

Filed March 26, 1969 Division of application Ser. No. 683,360, Nov. 15,1967. Now Pat. No. 3,459,428 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 GOLF BALL INCLUDINGPLANAR MIRROR SURFACE 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl A63b 69/36, A63b 37/14 Field ofSearch 273/l83all,

62, 213, 235, 58all,187,199, 200, 232,163,164

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 676,506 6/1901 Knight et al.273/213 1,091,186 3/1914 Brown ....273/183(E)UX 1,327,171 1/1920Ruggles... 273/163 1,795,732 3/1931 Miller 273/213 2,694,574 11/1954Baker... ...273/58(0l )UX 2,861,810 11/1958 Veatch..... 273/2133,110,495 l1/1963 Carter 273/187X Primary Exam inerGeorge J. MarloAttorney-Mark T. Basseches and Paula T. Basseches ABSTRACT: A golftraining device comprising a planar mirror member disposed on a planarsurface of a golf ball, the mirror being so oriented as to reflect aportion of the golfer's head, permitting the golfer visually to checkthe stability of his head throughout the golf swing by noting anymovement of that portion of his head reflected in the mirror when theball is struck, the flight characteristics of a spin imparted theretowill be accentuated, because of the balls nonaerodynamic shape.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1970 INVI'JNIOR. NATHAN MILLER GOLF BALL INCLUDINGPLANAR MIRROR SURFACE This application is a division of my copending US.Pat. application, Ser. No. 683,360, filed Nov. I5, I967, entitledPractice Golf Tee including Mirror Means, now US. Pat. No. 3,459,428.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention isin the field of golf training devices. It is well known and acceptedgolf theory that the proper execution of any golf stroke, from theshortest putt to the longest drive, should be accomplished withoutmovement of the head. Golfers may not be conscious of head movements,and when it is considered that a minor movement of the head can resultin a major displacement of the swing arc from the desired one, theadvantage of bringing to the golfers attention the fact of his headmovement will be readily apparent.

2. Description of the Prior Art When a beginning'or advanced golferfinds his shots straying, he will typically visit his professional. Theprofessional may spot swing flaws, including head movement, and reportthe same to the golfer, who will thereupon attempt, by practice, toeliminate the previously spotted errors. It is difficult, however,without the attention ofa skilled professional for the golfer tomaintain the proper habits which he developed during supervisedinstruction.

To assist the golfer in his self-analysis, various apparatuses whichphysically constrain the head from movement have been suggested. Thesedevices, which include slings, harnesses, braces, etc., are not onlyexpensive and cumbersomebut are not subject to use under actual golfingconditions.

Applicant is also aware of complex mirror devices calculated to permitthe golfer, while looking downwardly in the general direction of theball, to observe his swing.

While such devices are helpful in the sense of permitting a golfer toobtain an overall picture of his swing, they are not ef fective to alertthe golfer to small head movements. Also, they are not susceptible ofbeing utilized under actual playing conditions, and require the-golfersattention to be directed to an area remote from the actual target, i.e.to the mirror, not the golf ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention may be summarized ascomprising a planar mirror member of significant size, namely aboutonehalf inch or more, directly embedded in a golf ball. The mirror isoriented so that when the golfer looks down at the ball, the mirror willreflect a given, specific part of his head at address. The golfer maythen execute an actual swing, concentrating his attention on thereflection in the mirror. If, in the course of the swing, the reflectedimage changes, i.e. ifa first part of the head is visible at address andduring the course of the swing a second part of the head is visible, thegolfer will be aware that he has moved his head. Contrariwise, if'thesame part of the golfers head is visible throughout the back swing andthrough actual contact of the club with the ball, then the golfer willbe assured that he has maintained a stable head position.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a golf practicedevice which is inexpensive and which may be used under actual playingconditions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a golf practicedevice of the type described comprising a mirror on the ball position,which mirror reflects a portion of the golfers head, whereby minormovements of the head in the course of the swing-may be readilydetected.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf ball of thetype described having'a reflective portion or component, the addition ofsuch component unbalancing the golf ball so as to render the ballnonaerodynamic and, accordingly, magnifying the erratic flightcharacteristics which will normally result from an improperly executedswing.

A further objectof the invention is the provision ofa novel method ofswing analysis and, more particularly, a novel method of checking headposition throughout the swing which comprises the step of disposing amirror at the target area of the golf swing, namely, the golf ball, andorienting the mirror so that a specific portion of the golfers head isreflected therein.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa golfer at the top ofthe back swingposition, displaying the proper orientation of the golf practice devicewith respect to the golfer.

FIG. 2 is a magnified section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, as shown in FIG. 1 a golfer has executed abody turn and has drawn a conventional golf club 10 to an essentiallycorrect back swing position. The golf practice device 11 is shownoriented in proper relation to the golfer.

The practice device of FIGS. I and 2 comprises a conventional golf ball12, having a flat portion 13 formed thereon, the flat portion 13 beingprovided with a mirrored surface. The mirrored or planar portion 13 ispreferably comprised of a thin metallic film applied by the vacuumdeposit method so as to form a lightweight but durable reflectivecoating.

As shown, the ball 12 is seated on a golf tee 14 having the usualball-receiving socket 15 which permits adjustment ofthe position oftheball in both vertical and horizontal planes.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the ball is adjusted on the tee so that themirror is substantially normal to a line extending from the eyes of thegolfer to the ball. It will be observed that variations,'particularly ina vertical plane, from the precise normal position are permissible sothat, for instance, a golfer may adjust the ball so that the eyes, whendirected toward the ball, will be able to perceive a reflection of thenose or the chin of the golfer. When the swing is executed with the golfball thus positioned, the golfer will be permitted to concentrate hisattention where it belongs, on the golf ball, while at the same timebeing able to perceive any head movements inherent in his swing. Eventhe slightest deviations of head position-will be observed from the factthat the initial reflection, for instance the nose or the chin, willdisappear from view if there has been any movement or displacement ofthe head.

The golf swing may be completed and the ball actually struck, permittingthe golfer to execute not only a practice swing but an actual golfstroke.

Due to the off-balance nature of the golf ball and the nonaerodynamic oreccentric configuration thereof provided by the planar portion, theflight pattern of the ball will not be comparable to the flight of anormal ball. However, this is an advantage from the instructionalstandpoint in that the nonaerodynamic or'eccentric condition of the ballwill over emphasize the effects of any improper spin imparted to thegolf ball. If a clockwise or slice spin is imparted to the golfball, forinstance, the ball will exhibit a more marked slicing tendency thanwould a conventional ball. This function, coupled with the head movementdetection function, render the golf ball a particularly useful andinformative teaching tool susceptible to use under actual playconditions.

lt'will be observed that the utility of the device is not limited toconditions in which the ball is placed on a tee since obviously, byproper manipulation while the golf ball is in a grassy lie,'the mirrorcomponent may be oriented toward the user in proper position to functionin the movement detecting capacity set forth.

As will be apparent, the golf ball, by the addition of the planar mirrorcomponennwill not be suitable or permitted for use in championship playbut is intended to be used as a faultdetecting, corrective apparatus.

lclaim:

l. A golf practice device comprising an essentially spherical golf ballhaving a planar peripheral portion, planar mirror means disposed on saidplanar peripheral portion and being of said ball has a nonaerodynamicshape, whereby when said ball is struck, the flight characteristics of aspin imparted thereto will be accentuated.

